Readers Respond: Which of Common Plant Pests Most Deserve to Be Called Beneficial Weeds?

Responses: 27

By David Beaulieu, About.com Guide

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I let clover grow to supply Nitrogen until I am ready to plant in that spot! Creeping Charlie - it has started to take over a corner of my lawn. I like it because it is low growing, can be mowed over and still looks good and talk about the blue flowers when in bloom!
—Guest Vijaya

I have two weeds and they both have blue flowers. I think one is called Monks Weed (green leaves with small blue flowers, use as ground cover along tree line) and a tall plant with blue flowers (may be chicory). I had my girlfriend dig some up in her pasture and took it to AR from OK.
—Guest Patricia

My husband and I like to take rides on the dirt roads here in northeastern Montana. Often we cut wildflowers, grasses and decorative twigs for floral designs. It's easy to go offroad here to gather. Goldenrod grows here. The more moisture, the taller the plant. Up north it grows on the edge of the gravel road and gets only about 1' tall. On the irrigation ditches by the river it gets up to 36". The seeds evidently came into our back yard in the tread of the tires. We have a beautiful hedge-like stand at the edge of our yard that we didn't plant. Currently (the end of July) the stand is about 4 ft. tall, with blossom heads 8" ready to bloom. It's a beatiful addition to our yard. Making a barrier for privacy, shade for complimentary plants we've planted to the north of the patch, food for the birds, and a ready source of cut flower. Our "solidago patch" as we call it is an area of the yard we appreciate all year, from green shoot in spring to its winter display. - Montana Flower Child
—harvestmoonnemont.net

Someone told me that was the name of the groundcover growing in shade with yellow flowers that change to red berry-like things.
—Guest bunee

"A weed is a plant that we haven't found a use for --yet" is one definition. Corn going in a bean field is a weed. A plant growing in the wrong place is another definition. Wildflowers growing along the roadside are considered weeds by the state mowing crew. You bring up a good point--does the plant have a quality or beauty that is missed by others? Grasses are a similar example. If it has showy flowers of some sort, let it be. I had a giant sunflower appear in front of my house in the landscape bed. People liked it, even though it was a bit out of place. It was a focal point. I suggest purple coneflower--I always admired them along the roadside, now I have them sort of taking over my wildflower patch. Golden rod is, too!! Students at WIU grew a field of milkweeds, even modified a combine to harvest them. The silky fibers in the pod have a market value as a fiber and as insulation. I think the milky juice was a problem in the machine! Good survey question on your part.
—Greenfrog1

Since I have a Registered Backyard Wildlife Habitat, I have lots of native plants (weeds). Goldenrod, milkweed, viola, honeysuckle bush, dogwood, butterfly weed and poke weed which have been brought in by birds. I think the birds are trying to tell me something, so if the plant is not in the location I would like to have it I just move it to my wildflower garden. The only weeds I don't like are wire grass (Bermunda) and any other grass that is in my gardens where they shouldn't be.
—Guest Shelby24019

I leave a few Forget-Me-Nots in the garden here and there. Otherwise known as Myosotis, they do seed everywhere and for this reason become loathed by many observers. But rather than grumpily attempting to completely eradicate them, why not consider their established niche in history and allow their pleasant enough blue or sometimes pink or white flowers to contribute their transitory beauty in a few places and then remove them just before they go madly to seed.
—Hedgecutter

I love simple oxalis with the tiny yellow flowers. A little goes a long way though and, given a chance, oxalis will take over.
—Guest Debbie

I'm not too sure if this is a weed, but it sure grows like one! I bought a matured Purple Striped Malva Zebrina about two years ago, and it keeps coming back from the seeds it dropped. It's easy to grow, and it has a very complex flower pattern which is very interesting to look at. I'm starting to think I wasted my money on the first one....
—Guest Rob

My favorite spring weed is the wild violets. I enjoy Queen's Anne lace on the roadsides and in flower arrangements during the summer. Sumac deserves first place in the fall.
—showmedonna

I like to let milkweed grow in my yard because of the butterflies it attracts. It does tend to come up all over so I just pull it out if I do not want it growing in a certain place. I do leave quite a bit close to the sun room so I can get a good view of the butterflies that visit.
—Guest cs4grandma

I'm a fanatic for blue flowers. My gardening motto is simple: if it's blue, then it belongs in my garden. My latest "blue" venture has been Himalayan poppies, a fussy plant that I haven't gotten to bloom yet. So you can see why I wouldn't despise chicory. Yeah, it's a common weed along roadsides, but so what? It's blue, so it deserves a place in my yard. And it's not fussy, to boot!
—Guest Burt Weidermeyer

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David Beaulieu
Landscaping Guide